Molecular data reveal hidden diversity within the central Andean species Weberbauera spathulifolia (Thelypodieae: Brassicaceae)

DIEGO L. SALARIATO; HUBER TRINIDAD; ASUNCIÓN CANO; FERNANDO O. ZULOAGA; IHSAN AL-SHEHBAZ

BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2020 vol. 193 p. 523 - 545

0024-4074

Withinthe Andean crucifers, Weberbauera (Tribe Thelypodieae)comprises 18 species distributed along the central Andes ofArgentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Of these, Weberbaueraspathulifolia has the largest geographical range in the genusthat extends ca. 3000 km along the Andean highlands from La RiojaProvince in Argentina to the Ancash Department in Peru. This speciesalso exhibits the greatest morphologicalvariation in the genus. However, whether this geographical andmorphological variation represents one or more lineages remainsunclear. In this study we analyse W.spathulifolia across its entiredistribution range using molecular, morphological, and ecologicaldata. Because there is no phylogenetic analysis for the genus, wegenerated a comprehensive molecular sampling using nuclear (ITS) andplastid (trnL-Fand trnH-psbA)sequences for other species of Weberbaueraand representatives of South American Thelypodieae. Results obtainedfrom different data and analyses support the presence of twodifferent lineages within W.spathulifolia, one inhabiting thenorthern portion of the species range, and the other distributedalong its southern and central geographic range. In addition to themorphological differences and the allopatric distribution, theselineages also differ in their climatic niches. Therefore, we proposehere to retain the northern lineage under W.spathulifolia and to treat thesouthern-central lineage under W.orophila, comb. nov. Phylogeneticplacement of Weberbauera specieswithin the South American Thelypodieae is also analysed anddiscussed. Results of this study contribute to understanding thebiodiversity and evolution of the Andean Brassicaceae.